SANDF members granted bail in vehicle smuggling case
The accused were arrested in June for allegedly accepting bribes from a smuggling syndicate to allow stolen vehicles to cross from Limpopo into Zimbabwe.
LIMPOPO – Seven South African National Defence Force (SANDF) officers, who allegedly facilitated the smuggling of stolen vehicles into Zimbabwe, were granted bail based on new facts brought forward.
The accused appeared in the Musina Magistrate’s Court, sitting in Louis Trichardt, on Monday (September 13) and were released on R3 000 bail each, said Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi, the regional spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
After they were denied bail in August the accused brought a bail application on new facts on September 1. “These facts were finalised on Monday (September 13) and the accused were released on the bail. “Bail conditions stipulate that the accused must report to their nearest police station on a weekly basis,” she added.
The case was remanded to 25 October for further investigation.
The accused, Rapula Reuben Maidi (49) from Ikageng, Edward Lepokola (48) from Sebokeng, Bulelani Danti (29) from King Wiliams Town, Ludwe Gwedashe from Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), Thembani Mjelo (31) from East London, Marks Funeka (49) from Carletonville, Peter Thato Namane (51) from Soshanguve, were deployed at the Beitbridge Border Post between 2017 and 2019.
Their military ranks range between lance-corporal and private.
It is alleged the from June 2019 to February 2020 the suspects accepted a bribe of R15 000 from vehicle smuggling syndicates to allow stolen vehicles to cross the border to Zimbabwe. The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) received information about these alleged illegal dealings and the suspects were arrested on June 21 and 22 June in the North West, Northern Cape and Free State provinces, respectively, said Malabi-Dzhangi in an earlier statement.
In August the prosecution opposed bail because of evidence that suggested that the suspects had plans to evade custody. As well that they were “arranging to hire a sangoma to eliminate the investigating team and the prosecutor”.
